HAMPSHIRE councillors will today vote on a £672m budget which will see average council tax bills outside Southampton’s unitary authority rise by £20.

A wage freeze for thousands of workers and slashing mileage rates are among a list of measures drawn up to balance the budget.

County bosses have set themselves a £30m savings target over the next two years because of rising demand for services and anticipated reduced Government public spending.

Council leader Ken Thornber has said there are no cuts in service budgets in the spending plans for 2010-11.

The county council is responsible for services including social care, road repairs, education, libraries and rubbish disposal.

If the 2010-11 budget is formally approved today, council tax will rise by 1.9per cent for the second year running.

Residents will be charged an extra £20 a year in council tax for an average Band D home, taking the total to £1,037, excluding police, fire, district and parish charges.

In addition, £8m savings will be taken out of council coffers.

Liberal Democrat opposition councillors have accused Conservatives of building up reserves by council tax hikes in previous years.

Unions are objecting to plans to cut petrol expenses from 53p to 40p per mile – saving about £1m a year – and stopping extra pay for working nights and evenings.